- Barcelona held talks with Thomas Partey over a potential free transfer
- Arsenal want to keep the midfielder and are negotiating a new deal
- Atletico Madrid are also interested in bringing Partey back
Key Takeaways:
Barcelona have held discussions with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey over a possible move to Camp Nou, according to The Mirror. The Catalan club have expressed interest in the Ghanaian, whose contract with the Gunners expires this summer.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is reportedly a long-time admirer of Partey’s qualities and is considering him as a cost-effective option to strengthen the midfield. Talks between Arsenal and Partey’s representatives are ongoing but have yet to produce an agreement, leaving the door open for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, the player’s former club, to intervene.
🚨Barcelona have opened talks with Thomas Partey’s camp over a move this summer, with his future at Arsenal still up in the air, per @iamrahmanosman. 👋🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/bwjny3CpLC
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) June 1, 2025
Barça have already contacted the player’s camp to assess the feasibility of a summer transfer. Flick sees Partey as a smart addition, especially as the club continues searching for quality reinforcements within budget.
For his part, Partey is said to prefer staying in north London. He recently became a father and his family has settled well in the city. However, the player is reluctant to accept a major pay cut, which complicates Arsenal’s attempts to extend his deal.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for £45 million, but his time in England has been disrupted by frequent injuries. When fit, though, he remains an important figure and made 35 Premier League appearances last season.
Earlier, The Telegraph reported that Partey was open to signing a new contract with Arsenal and had expressed a desire to stay. But after meeting with Barcelona, there is now a chance he could reconsider. Atletico Madrid are closely monitoring the situation and are interested in re-signing the midfielder.